Germany is World Leader in Effort to Prevent Climate Change

This update of an environmental sustainability program first launched in 2000 outlines how the national emission reduction target is to be achieved for the period from 2008 to 2012, as defined by the Kyoto Protocol. The objective is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 21 percent compared with the same kind of emissions in 1990.

Germany continues to lead in climate change prevention efforts

Germany continues to be the world leader in efforts undertaken to help prevent climate change. As of the end of 2003 greenhouse gas emissions were 18.5 percent less than the volume registered for 1990. The current reduction figure amounts to around 19 percent. Environment Minister Jürgen Trittin: "This documents our leading role worldwide. Germany is making the biggest contribution towards the reduction of emissions in the EU. And we will probably be the only EU country to comply with its reduction commitment on the basis of its own measures, i.e. without recourse to flexible mechanisms." Germany is only two percentage points away from reaching its reduction target. But it will nonetheless require a considerable effort to go the rest of the way.

A number of things are of interest here. CO2 emissions caused by transport and industry have declined in Germany, in contrast to the trend for most EU countries. Emissions from private households are also down from their 1990 level. Here, again, further reductions will have to be made in order to achieve the overall objective.

Current situation and outlook

Looking at the objectives set out in the National Climate Protection Program 2000, it can be said that results have been achieved in a number of areas.

Higher energy efficiency: Over the past few years Germany has made notable progress with regard to achieving higher levels of energy efficiency. In 2003 primary energy consumption was considerably lower that at the beginning of the 1990s. Per capita energy consumption also declined significantly, despite rising levels of prosperity. In 2003 energy productivity, i.e. economic performance per unit of energy consumed, showed an increase of nearly a fourth over 1990. An increase of 7.3 percent was recorded for the period from 1998 to 2003. We need to continue along this path.

CO2 reduction through housing improvement: From February 2001 to March 2005 some 75,500 loans were approved, totaling 4.2 billion euros, for the renovation of more than 223,000 housing units. The program is the largest of its kind in Europe. According to a study carried out on the subject, CO2 emissions have been reduced by around 1.2 million metric tons since 2001 as a result of the improvement measures carried out under the program. Further reductions are to be achieved by continuing the ongoing program.

Increased use of renewable energies: Over the past few years there has been a marked increase in the percentage of energy accounted for by renewables. In 2004 biomass, hydroelectric, wind, solar, and geothermal power accounted for 3.6 percent of primary energy consumed (as opposed to 2.6 percent in 2000) and for more than 9 percent of the generated electricity consumed (as opposed to 6.7 percent in 2000). This year 193 million euros was allocated for a market incentive program with a view to promoting the use of renewable energies and making them more cost competitive.

Specific targets and measures

The National Climate Protection Program 2005 contains specific reduction targets as well as measures to achieve them. Here are two examples:

A reduction of around 5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide beyond the volume of emissions expected for 2005 is to be made in the private household sector. This should make it possible to attain an average emission volume of about 120 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in the period from 2008 to 2012.

A reduction of around 10 million metric tons of carbon dioxide is to be made in the transport sector. The government assumes it will be possible to attain an average emission volume of about 171 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in the transport sector in the period from 2008 to 2012.

The following measures are to be taken in these sectors to address what are currently perceived to be needs for action:

• Economic incentives will continue to help develop the considerable emission reduction potentials that exist in connection with the modernization of buildings and will help encourage the increased use of renewable energies.
• The Energy Savings Regulation will be amended. In the future, energy-efficiency certifications will create greater transparency regarding the energy-related qualities of buildings for renters and buyers.
• Information deficits are to be eliminated and emission-reduction potentials developed through public relations activities, counseling, and training.
• Development of the toll collection system for trucks into a flexible pricing instrument with toll charges varying with time and place for the purpose of distributing the costs of road use by heavy trucks more equitably.
• Systematic implementation of the government fuel strategy aimed at increasing the use of alternative fuels will result in very considerable CO2 reductions.
• Tax discounts will continue to be provided for fuel-efficient trucks.
• Further measures such as the introduction of emission-dependent landing fees, the reduction of competitive distortions between carriers, and the replacement of HFC refrigerants in mobile air-conditioning units will also be part of Germany's effort over the next few years to help prevent climate change.

The government climate protection program has put in place an annual monitoring procedure aimed at tracking implementation of climate-protection objectives. In the future, a report will be submitted to the cabinet once a year on the status of greenhouse gas emissions. The Interministerial Working Group on CO2 Reduction has been given the task of updating the National Climate Protection Program in 2008.

National Climate Protection Program supports global objectives

Preventing global warming and reducing the consequences of climate change are among the core challenges of the 21st century. There is wide-ranging agreement among scientists engaged in climate research that global climate change has already begun.

With this in mind, the European Union reaffirmed its statement that global warming must not exceed 2 degrees Celsius above average temperatures in pre-industrial times if severe consequences to mankind and to ecosystems are to be avoided.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change that went into effect in 1994 and the Kyoto Protocol that was adopted in 1997 and went into effect on February 16, 2005 constitute the foundations for a globally coordinated climate-protection policy.

The aim of the present National Climate Protection Program is to ensure Germany's compliance with the commitment it assumed at the European and international levels to reduce average greenhouse gas emissions in the period from 2008 to 2012 by 21 percent with reference to the base year 1990 and, as such, to lay the foundation for further policy on climate change after 2012.